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HOVELANDS will have to rely on other factors to see if they have qualified to play in next season's Netball South-West Regional League.

In the qualifying tournament at Bath University last Sunday they faced Swindon side Moredon in their first match, each match being played over 30 minutes.

They took an early two-goal lead but an experienced Moredon team came back strongly and had the better of the first half to finish 13-10 ahead.

The Swindon team immediately stretched their lead to six goals at the start of the second half only for Hovelands to respond well and reduce the deficit to just one goal, 21-20, with five minutes left.

The match could have gone either way as the sides traded goal for goal but Hovelands just missed out by the narrowest of margins losing 25-24. It was an excellent performance against a team who were to go on to win the tournament.

Needing to win their second match, against another Swindon team Highworth, Hovelands began poorly and trailed 5-0 before finding any semblance of form. They gradually worked their way back into the match to draw level 9-9 at half-time.

Five goals without reply at the start of the second half saw Hovelands take control of the match and they were able to conserve some energy when they went 19-12 ahead with seven minutes left.

They were comfortable winners 23-17 at the finish and faced a final encounter against Mavericks of Avon for third place. The first half was very evenly contested with the lead constantly changing hands but Mavericks led 11-10 at half-time.

The Avon League side pulled 19-13 ahead in the second period but Hovelands fought their way back into the match and were only two goals behind with three minutes left.

Unfortunately, Mavericks were able to withstand the pressure to win by 24 goals to 21.

Hovelands' final position of fourth in a closely-matched tournament was very creditable but could, on another day, have been much higher.

Goalshooter Sue Bullock had an excellent tournament, playing well in all three matches, but now has to wait with her team-mates to see whether Hovelands have done enough to step up a league next season.

6:12pm Tuesday 13th May 2008

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